I think most of us know more about Kyle Rittenhouse than we want to. He’s always on X, whining, feeling sorry for himself, or hawking something, including his floparoo of a book, even though the two men he killed in cold blood, who should be able to whine and perhaps feel sorry for themselves and tell their own stories aren’t able to because they are dead. Which they wouldn’t be if he hadn’t taken an AR-15 style rifle, illegally purchased for him by a friend, across state lines — from Antioch, Illinois to Kenosha Wisconsin, where he fatally shot Anthony Huber, 26, and Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and injured Gaige Grosskreutz. The men were participating in a protest against the killing of Jacob Blake, 29, at the hands of a white cop.

He was acquitted of this but has been hanging around like a bad case of ringworm ever since. Now, he’s going to be the guest speaker during an event at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and more than a few people on campus aren’t all that thrilled about that.

“Yeah it makes me feel on edge,” junior Kendolyn Haney told WJHL.com., noting that his appearance makes her uneasy. “It makes me feel unsafe. It makes other people feel unsafe. It makes people feel unwelcome. I just think because of that reason, I think that they should pick a better candidate.”

Rittenhouse was invited by ETSU student group Turning Point USA (TPUSA) to speak on February 8 at 7 p.m. I’m going to point out that Turning Point USA has been listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s HateWatch. Because yeah, they’re those kind of people.

Some students aren’t as bothered about Rittenhouse’s appearance on campus. Freshman Beverly Larkin said she won’t be attending the event but added everyone’s thoughts should be respected.

“Probably not going to go, ” she said. “Probably not going to waste my time with that. Not that it’s a waste of time, I’m sure has things to say and we need to respect everyone’s thoughts and views.”

Yes, Rittenhouse has things to say. He never shuts up. But no. We don’t have to respect his thoughts and views. That’s what true public discourse is about. But I guess Larkin hasn’t learned this yet. If he’s going to show up, people have every right to air their feelings to him.

Hey @TPUSA keep your POS trash out of our city. Kyle Rittenhouse is NOT an expert on ANYTHING other than being a whiny criminal! pic.twitter.com/6pRXaTIo2h

— 🌊KaReN 🌊c🌊WaTsOn🌊 (@kwmcconnell) January 30, 2024

But if people on campus are lucky, he won’t be there. Because another student group at ETSU, Young Democrat Socialists in America (YDSA) has created a petition calling for the university to announce public opposition to his visit. TPUSA’s student leaders, however, told the TV station that they invited Rittenhouse to hear his point of view.

“We want to cultivate ideas,” said the President of Turning Point USA Lakie Derrick. “That’s what Turning Point’s goal is. We want to educate students as well as empower students. We’re bringing [Rittenhouse] because we want to show that the soft-on-crime Democrat policies that a lot of states have are not good for the welfare of people, and the BLM movement that is claiming to care about black lives is the same movement that is burning down Kenosha.”

According to Derrick, Rittenhouse’s story is a powerful example of standing up for one’s views. Well, Rittenhouse could have stood up for his views by staying home and not shooting anyone. I mean, isn’t that a powerful statement too? But like I mentioned earlier, TPUSA is on the SPLC’s hatewatch, so there’s that.

“We have the First Amendment that protects my ability to bring in a speaker just like Kyle Rittenhouse who you may not agree with,” said Derrick. “And also, gives them the exact same ability to bring in a speaker of their very own that I don’t agree with as well. But the difference is, I would go to their event, listen to what their speaker had to say, and I’d participate in the question and answer and I ask them to do the same.”

Derrick also claims the group welcomes people who agree and disagree with Rittenhouse to attend the event. She noted this is Rittenhouse’s first event speaking at a college, and there will also be a question and answer section of the event.

I hope Rittenhouse’s opposition will be there. I hope they carry enormous, brightly colored signs that say “MURDERER.” Because that’s what he is.